Red Sparrow | A Rose for Sergei

I recently finished reading Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews.  It’s a fiction spy vs. spy thriller.  Mr. Matthews, a former CIA operative, gives you an inside peek at clandestine goings on in the world in his award winning first novel.  He had me at espionage.  I’ve always loved mystery and intrigue.

One of my favorite lines from Red Sparrow:

“We cannot have foreign diplomats harmed on the streets, even if they are meeting with Russian traitors,” said Egorov with a snort.  “The FBI will start mugging our officers in Georgetown if this happens again.”

—Jason Matthews

This passage caught my attention because of my own true story, A Rose for Sergei, about meeting and dating Soviet KGB defector Sergei Kourdakov.  Sergei’s cautious actions were very similar to the people in Red Sparrow.  I wasn’t completely surprised at some of the things Mr. Matthews talked about because of where I used to work.  His book, however, was an eye-opener for me concerning all the foreign agents strolling around.  My heart raced when I read how they stealthily conducted surveillance.

My take-a-way from his book?  I now realize why I never noticed anyone following Sergei and me, even though Sergei warned me.  I wasn’t trained in that area, but Sergei was.  He knew.  My heart-stopping moments when reading Red Sparrow?  I also now know why Sergei Kourdakov always insisted that I drive, and why he slid out of view in the car seat whenever we went out.

Red Sparrow is an incredible read, one that I can highly recommend.  Excellent book Mr. Matthews!  You gave this writer the chills.

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Available from Amazon!

Sergei Kourdakov - January 1

In the early morning hours of January 1, even in my deepest sleep, I’m startled awake.  It is the same time each year.  And I know.  Sometime after midnight, forty-three years ago, a shot was fired and Sergei Kourdakov fell to the floor.  One fatal gunshot wound to the head.  I was more than 2000 miles away at the time, but uneasiness had nagged me during the days leading up to that very night.  Did I by some means sense that, when we parted for the holidays, it would be the last time I would ever see Sergei alive?  I block those memories from my mind each year, or at least I try to do that, as I prepare for the holidays.  But somehow those thoughts find me.  I don’t think I’ll ever truly know what happened that night.

A Rose for Sergei - A Story That Will "Stay With You"

Ereader News Today is one of the leading eBook promotion sites – they help authors reach millions of new readers.  I was thrilled when I found out that A Rose for Sergei was selected to be featured on ENT on December 18.  Over the weekend many new readers discovered my heartfelt story about Sergei Kourdakov.  On Saturday, A Rose for Sergei climbed to the Amazon US #4 ranking in: Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Europe > Russia.  Of course those numbers change hourly, and in the blink of eye they’re gone…replaced by the next book making its way into readers’ homes.  For this self-published author, seeing that ranking on Amazon was truly an unexpected and wonderful holiday surprise.  I thank all of you who purchased my book, and I hope you enjoy reading A Rose for Sergei.  Sharing my story with someone, and/or writing a review is the best compliment I can receive.

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Thank you, Cookie, for this wonderful “Five-Star” review you posted on Amazon:

“I LOVED this book and read it in two days.  It is a remarkable story about two young people who were in love and how miracles and fate played a part in each of their lives.  Have some kleenex ready at the end.  This story will definitely "stay with you" after you read it.  It's a wonderful story and well-worth reading - I highly recommend it.  I'll be reading Sergei's book, "The Persecutor" next.  Thank you for writing this story, K. Kidd!”

—Cookie

A Rose for Sergei - Holiday eBook Special

A Rose for Sergei

K. Kidd

Sergei Kourdakov, a Russian KGB defector, and a young American woman - a captivating true story that imagination could not invent.

Holiday eBook Special

Only $1.00 on December 18 - 20, 2015

Paperback:  $9.99

Order Now from Amazon! 

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Excerpt from A Rose for Sergei:

I was up late since I couldn’t fall asleep, and I was still awake when the telephone rang.

“K, sorry it is late, this is Sergei.  Did you get the roses?”

“Hi Sergei, I know it’s you.  I can tell by your accent,” I teased him back.  “Yes, I did get the roses and they are beautiful.  I love them. Thank you for giving them to me.”

“I miss you already.  That is why I wanted to give you roses,” Sergei explained.

  

“I miss you, too.”  My heart was beating fast.  I was surprised to hear what he was telling me, but I knew from the weekend that he said exactly what he thought at all times.

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Take advantage of this holiday eBook special!  Don’t forget – you can “Gift” an eBook to someone if you know their email address!  Just click on the “Give as a Gift” icon when you checkout on Amazon.

Happy Holidays!

Great Holiday Gifts!

Looking for a great holiday gift?  Books are still one of the top gifts to give and receive.  Some of the best book deals and finds are written by independently published authors, aka Indie Authors.  In fact, for the first time ever, a self-published book appeared on one of The Washington Post’s best-of-the-year lists.  “It was bound to happen sooner or later,” wrote Ron Charles, Editor of The Washington Post’s Book World, in the November 26, 2015 article.

My book wasn’t on that list…but one can only dream.  Nevertheless, I was thrilled that A Rose for Sergei was featured in the December 2015 Support Indie Authors newsletter.  A Rose for Sergei is a beautiful love story—that just happens to be true.  Even though my book is in the Non-Fiction category, everyone suggests it should also be listed under “Romance.”

Following is an excerpt from the Indie newsletter.

Support Indie Authors - December Style

“TOTAL WORLD DOMINATION - Err, scratch that.  I'm told it's not PC.  But the truth of the matter is that Indie Authors are quickly becoming the majority in the industry.  If we stand together and maintain our beliefs, values, and KIND HEARTEDNESS towards writers of all types, we can begin to change the world's viewpoint on us.”

— Ann Livi Andrews

Miss Andrews is the author of the entertaining Rehab for Superheroes series.  (Genre:  Comics & Graphic Novels, Super Heroes)

Check out Indie Book Reviews for your next great read!

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Do I still support and read traditionally published authors?  Absolutely!  I wholeheartedly recommend Spies & Heroes.  This selection of short stories has something for everyone.  You will not be disappointed.  

Excerpt from Amazon:

 “Spies and heroes spring from the most unlikely sources, as shown by these original stories from around the globe.  Spies, as well as heroes, range from serious professionals to nosey neighbors or accidentally recruited civilians.”

A Rose for Sergei – A First Reading

I’ve always liked the idea of having a first reading to celebrate the publication of a book.  Whether it be a traditionally published book, or self-published book, the emotions are the same.  There is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment and completion.

I never actually had the opportunity to read A Rose for Sergei in front of a group of people.  A celebration was planned a year ago, lists were made, and books were ordered.  No one counted on Mother Nature’s wintery blast striking our area earlier than usual that month.  Think freezing rain, power outages, icy sidewalks and broken limbs…on trees and pedestrians.  My dear friend and hostess of my scheduled “first reading” party slipped and broke her arm.  Event cancelled.  I was just glad her up-close-and-personal meeting with the ice wasn’t worse.

Fast forward a year.  A few weeks ago I received a phone call informing me that my former boss, Mr. Logie, was nearing the end of his life.  He was ninety-five years old.  If I wanted to visit him, I needed to do it very soon.  Yes, I informed his son, I would like to say goodbye.

If you’ve read my book or followed my blog you’ll know that Mr. Logie was the former boss who introduced me to Sergei Kourdakov when I was twenty-one.  He was the one that pushed past dignitaries at the grave site in Washington DC as he guided Mrs. Logie and me to stand beside Sergei’s lifeless body in the casket.

When I arrived at the care facility I was directed to Mr. Logie’s room, where I found him alone and resting.  He sensed I was there beside him, opened his eyes, and called me by name.  He thanked me for coming, and asked how I was doing.  “I have a paperback copy of A Rose for Sergei for you,” I said as I held the book up for him.  “Oh, it’s nice, it’s really nice.  I like the cover.”  He then leaned back to rest.

In the quiet of that room I began reading.  I chose a few chapters in the book that included him.  In a clear, strong voice I read my book out loud for the first time ever.  My audience of one nodded and smiled as the memories of all those years came to life once again.  It was the most wonderful first reading any writer could have ever wished for.  It was the last time I would ever see Mr. Logie.

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Mr. Kirk H. Logie, Sr.

Rest in Peace

Where One Story Stops . . .

I had a different topic for my blog this week but ended up not posting it.  When I logged onto my site, my eyes were immediately drawn to a new comment waiting for review in my inbox.  I was surprised, even though I expected she would contact me one day.  In this case, “she” refers to Caroline Walker, the producer of the documentary film, Forgive Me Sergei.  Her movie motivated me to write my book, A Rose for Sergei.  Caroline’s and my opinions, however, differ immensely.  We are strangers, but our lives have overlapped by very unusual circumstances.  We have a lot to say about Sergei Kourdakov and his book, The Persecutor.  I believe his story.  She does not.

Excerpt from my May 4, 2015 post – The Persecutor vs. Forgive Me, Sergei:

“This film motivated me to write A Rose for Sergei.  I wanted to offer a different point of view and try to show you that maybe…just maybe, the movie got some of Sergei’s story wrong.  How easy it is to talk negatively about someone who is no longer here.  How easy it is to think that no one would care if you did.”

—K. Kidd

Comment regarding above post received November 9, 2015:

“As the producer of the documentary film, Forgive Me Sergei, who put my name, face and reputation on the line by moving forward with production after discovering discrepancy after discrepancy inside and outside of Russia -- and after raising most of the film's seed money from Evangelicals and Episcopalians in my hometown via enthusiastic talks about my exciting research and passion for the story, I can assure you that I cared VERY much what people would think about the outcome of the research shown in the film.  In the year 2000, no one controlled me, the director, or the Russians we interviewed.  And, sharing your Cold War mentality that the story was absolutely true and that the Russian government was omnipresent, I was suspicious nearly the entire time I was in Russia until a particular discrepancy proved to me that Sergei lied.  The poor Russian lady in Vladivostok who wanted to sell me Nutrisystem . . . . I was so rude to her :-(  No one could have been more conspiracy-minded than I was.”

—Caroline Walker

My response on November 12, 2015:

“Caroline, I know years of research went into the making of your movie.  I respect all the time and effort you put forth.  I bought your movie and watched it several times.  Your interviews with those in Canada, and the detective who investigated Sergei’s death in California, were very informative.  Nevertheless, the parts filmed in Russia left me skeptical.  I believe a documentary film should cover all sides of the story; therefore I wish you had continued your research and journey to Washington D.C.  If you had talked with anyone in the intelligence field, the outcome of your movie might have been different.  All personnel who came in contact with Sergei Kourdakov knew he had been thoroughly investigated by the U.S. Government.  If he had been lying about his past, it would have been uncovered years ago.”

—K. Kidd